The body of Juan Francisco Sánchez, a 32-year-old man from Telde who had been missing since last Wednesday, has been recovered from the sea along the coast of Guía, in the north of Gran Canaria.
The discovery marks the tragic end of a week-long search operation that had initially focused on the Gáldar coastline, where his car was first located.
Authorities were alerted shortly after 1:30p.m. on Tuesday, when a member of the public reported spotting a body floating in the sea near Barranquillo Moreno, close to the Cala Molina viewpoint, an area that lies on the border between the municipalities of Guía and Gáldar.
A rescue helicopter was swiftly deployed to the scene and recovered the body. The man, who was found wearing only underwear, was in an advanced state of decomposition, indicating he had been in the water for several days. Once brought to shore, the body was taken into custody by the Guardia Civil, who are now overseeing the official identification and coordinating an autopsy to confirm the cause of death.
Preliminary findings strongly suggest that the body is that of Juan Francisco Sánchez. He was last seen on 9th April, prompting a search effort that focused on the Botija area of Gáldar after his distinctive yellow Mercedes A45S was discovered parked nearby.
Despite the targeted search in that area, which included aerial drones, sea patrols, and ground teams, strong ocean currents are believed to have carried his body into the neighbouring municipality of Guía.
The missing person alert issued by SOS Desaparecidos described Juan Francisco as 1.73 metres tall, with black hair, brown eyes, and a muscular build. While the circumstances of his disappearance remain unclear, authorities currently suspect that he may have fallen into the sea.
As investigations continue, the community of Telde and the wider Gran Canaria region mourn the loss of a young man whose life came to a sudden and sorrowful end.
